Before 24 Billion and Counting

Chapter 15 Part 2 A vote is cast and has consequences

There was no dissent and the recorder was turned off. The venerable Marjorie who had been in the office with my father, rolled in a trolley, and passed out coffee, including setting one for me. She laughed, "Well Mr Charles it's so real." 

I poured myself some coffee from the pot on my table. Ward asked with an iedge to his voice what I had been doing over the last days. "I may have found a good manuscript to publish as a book, and the story of how the book came to be is interesting too. I have also a possible TV script to do with Jacob Neumann." 

"Sounds like piddling stuff to me." 

"Yes Ward, I'm sure it does, but I'm not asking anyone for half a million dollars up front." 

Betty said, "If the story of the book is as good as or better than the story in the book, what would you do? Write it yourself?" 

"I've fleetingly considered it, but I doubt that I could do it in the context of my work here. I could hire someone to ghost it." As I said it, I knew it was wholly untrue. I wouldn't want someone else to articulate the feelings I had for Chris and his life and times. 

Ward said, "I suppose it's science fiction again. When will you get real:" 

Gerald said, "Ward I wouldn't disparage science fiction. Star Trek's been the longest playing soap ever, and it's still there, five generations worth. You have at least ten channels putting out a science fiction slot in the early evening with an advertising revenue that merits attention." 

Ned chimed in at that point, "Six of Charles' finds are netting us a million a year and the portfolio is steadily growing. And the ballet that Charles' father invested in which is a sort of fantasy, even after all these many years brings in five hundred thou' in pure royalties. It's not big but it's long term and it's cumulative, and the cost risk is small. It's not just a big splash and then nothing." 

I forbore to mention that my father's investment in Alicia's ballet had nearly broken the company at the time. No one felt able to maintain the conversation. Quiet sounds moved centre stage; the clink of cup on saucer; the click of Ward's flashy cigarette lighter and his heavy inhalation and exhalation of smoke; the measured ticking of the old long case clock in the corner of the room; the subdued rumble of the city through the double glazing. 

I said, "Alright folks, five minutes to go. I'm going to examine the plumbing, and then we'll resume." 

Soon I took my seat at the table, and said, "Ok on my mark Ned. We resume the meeting all those present being the same. I suggest we take a vote again, having had fifteen minutes to think about this. Has anyone anything to add to the discussion before we do this?" 

Unusually Ned volunteered, "Yes. Normally I do not take part in the judgement of creative output, but I don't think that is the issue here. What we have is a problem of how confident we are in the judgement of a fellow director. Ward wants us to pay ten dollars a word for creative writing. Charles seems to be able to get it for the cost of some air fares, hotel bills and incidental expenses. At the outside a tenth of the cost. Ward has had one success and two failures in this medium, and hasn't given us a rationale for the difference. Betty and Charles between them have given a rationale which I find intellectually satisfying. 

"Gerald follows a similar line of thought about Ward's opinion of our market, but Ward's last submission about how he views our fellow men I find very disturbing. Whilst we've been talking we haven't said anything about the track record of the author of Ward's script. Two cereal advertisements and a pop video script don't seem enough to justify that money. So whilst I'm not saying the script is good or bad for the market, I am saying that the person recommending it, is not in this instance to be trusted and I'm now voting against it."